Vapor-generating attachment for internal-combustion engines



- June 10, 1924. 1,497,533

W. L. BARRON VAPOR GENERATING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 23, 1922 1 "'I y /IIIII IIIA III. M

'dffcruclw Patented 1m 10, 1924.

WILLIAM L. BIT, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

VAPOR-GENERATING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAIPGOMBUSTION G-INES.

Application filed. February 23, 1922. Serial No. 538,808.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. BARRON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma City, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Generating Attachments for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for supplying moisture to an internal come bustion engine and has for its object to provide a device of this character which till embodies novel features of construction whereby the explosive mixture will be automatically humidified before it enters the engine cylinders, thereby causing the engine to run smoothly with a maximum de: gree of power and assisting in eliminating carbon deposits. a

Further objects of the invention are to ,provide a char e humidifing device for internal combustion en ines which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily mounted upon any. conventional type of engine, which acts automatically to supply the moisture to the engine when the engine is running, and which can be readily assembled or taken apart for the purpose of making repairs or ad'ustments.

With the a ove and other objects in view the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts,'as will more fully ap car as the description proceeds, the novel teatures thereof being point-= ed out in the appended claims.

One preferred embodiment. of the inven tion is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mixture humidifying attachment which is constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same as mounted upon an internal combustion en ine.

Figure 2 is an en arged sectional view through the vapor generating portion of the attachment.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the vapor generator with portions broken away and shown in section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawing by like reference characters.

For the purpose of illustration the invention is shown as a plied to a conventional type of internal combustion engine A which is provided with the usual intake manifoldB and exhaust manifold C. The intake manifold is intended to be connected with a carburetor and to receive the. explosive mixture from the carburetor in the customary and well knowmmanner.

The vapor generator includes a hollow casing E which encloses afloat valve chamber 1. The casing is'formed in com lemental lower and upper sections 2 an respectively, which have a detachable con nection with each other. The lower section 2 is intended to receive a predetermined amount of water 4:, and is formed at its base with a plug 5-which is screwed or otherwise anchored in an openin which is drilled in the exhaust manifold ata corn venient place. The plug provides a support for, the casing and also serves to conduct heat from the exhaust manifold to the bo tom of the casing for the purpose of vaporizing thewater 4.

The water within the float chamber is maintained at a certain levelby means of a needle valve 6 which is controlled by the float 7. The cover or upper section 3 oil the casing is formed with a horizontally disposed water inlet8 which receives the end of a water supply pipe 9, said pipe being suitably connected with the water cooling system of the engine; In the presenhnn stance the end -of the water supply pipe is fitted within an openin which is drilled in the water jacket of t e engine, and the level of the water in the cooling system oil the engine is sufficiently high to provide for a flow of water through the pipe 9 and into the interior of the casing 1E whenever the needle valve 6 is opened. The needle valve is vertically disposed and engages a valve seat whichis suitably mm. in a duct 10 extending downwardly from the m nerend of the water inlet 8.. The needle valve is directed in its up an down ments by the walls otthe duct and has the sides thereof provided with longituall extending recesses or cut-awe portions so that the water can flow eely the sides thereof. e lower end of the needle valve engages a pivoted armil which Ball lid

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carries the float valve 7. Thisa is pivot Elli - ried by the top 3 of the casing1 .are removable with the top an ment with the valve seat 21 whic vious that the float, needle valve and water pipe connection are mounted upon and carso that the can be rea ily adjusted or repaired when the top is lifted away from the base 2.

- An enlargement 14 is provided at the uper portion of the casing top 3 and has; a horizontally disposed valve chamber therein.

The outer end of the valve chamber receives;

one end of a vapor pipe 16 which leads to the intake manifold; In the present instance the other end of the va or pipe enters the base of the intakemanifo d through ing provided in one side thereo a nut being utilized to obtain a tight and r1 1d connection. The inner end of the va ve chamber 15 communicates through the intersecting passages 18 and 19 with the interior of the casing E. An outwardly openin valve 20 is arranged-"-within the valve cham r 15 and is normally held in a yieldin engage- 18 provided at the intersection of the passage 18 and the valve chamber 15. The valve 20 is slidably mounted upon a horizontally disposed stem 22 which extends axially through the passage 18 and the valve chamber 15. v A coil ring 23 which surrounds the valve stem 18 interposed between the valve and an abutment 24 on the inner end thereof. The valve is thus held in a normal engagement with the valve seat 21, although it is adapted to be automatically opened (the suction of'the. engine to rmit the vapor and air within the casing va rs'upply pipe 16linto the intake manifo d B.

' The free end of the valve stem 22 projects throiiigh one side of the casing where it 1s threade and provided with apair of nuts '25. Oneof these nuts;v acts as a jam nut to lock'the other nut against rotation, there'- by enabling the device to retain an ment.- It will be obvious that by manipulatingthese nuts 25 the va adjustroperly ve stem 22 can'be moved in andout and the tension in the spring 23 regulatedso that more or less of the-moisture canbe permitted to pass the automatic valve. The device can thus be properly adjusted to obtain the best results in connection with difierent makes and types of engines and for'use under va rious conditions of service. The to of the casin is also shown as rovidedwit smallair in ct openings 26. en the engine is in operation the heat from the exhaust manifold will vaporize the water 4 in thebottom of. the casing E and cause the I pperportion of the casing o be filled with a mixture of air and water. vapor. The

partial vacuum which is maintained in the intake manifold B of the engine while the engine is running will be transmitted through the vapor supply pipe 16 to the valve chaman open- I c amber.-' The top tions at the meeting edges of to be drawn through the ber 14, with the result that the valve 20 will be opened and a mixture of air and vapor drawn into the intake manifold through the .pipe 16. Air enters the casing E freely through the ports or openings 26, and as this automatic in its operation. After the nuts 25 have been once adjusted the valve 20 will automatically supply the proper quantity of humidity and air to the intake manifold while the engine is in operation. The spring 23 will, of course, automatically close the valve and maintain it in a closed osition when the engine is not running. A1 of the valve parts and pi e conneetions'are on the top or cover 3 of t e casing so that they can be readily assembled thereon before the cover is applied to the art 2. This also facilitates any necessary a justment or re air of the parts when the cover portion 3 o the casing 1s removed. "The sections 2 and 3 of the easing have a complemental formation and co 0 erate with each other to provide a closed 3 is shown as rovided at its loweredge with a periphera flange 26 which telescopes within the u per end of the casing section 2, the overapping porthe two casing sections being fastened together with suitable members such as the screws 27. YVhen the screws are removed the casing sec tious can be separated and all of the parts of the mechanism will then be readily accessible. The devicecan be readil mounted upon the engine and the humidity which is supplied thereby to the explosive mixture assists in eliminating carbon deposits,

and also causes the engine to run more efficlentl Having thus described my invention, what .I claim as new and desire to secure by Let:

ters Patent is: I

1. The combination with an internal com bustion engine having exhaust and intake manifolds, of a va r generator comprising a water chamber aving a separate valve chamber directl communicating" with the upper portion 0 the water chamber, a water inlet and automatic valve control means therefor, a vapor pipe leading from the valve chamber to the intake manifold, and

an automatically seated valve in said,cliam-' *ber disposed to be opened bysuction from ceptacle adapted for attachment to said engine, a detachable cover. for the water receptacle provided with a vapor chamber, a discharge valve chamber having an automatically closed valve, and a valved water intake, a water inlet pi e communicating with said cover, and a oat valve mechanism mounted upon the cover to control said intake valve, and a vapor pipe leading from the discharge valve chamber to the engine.

3. A humidifying device for an internal combustion engine comprising a water receptacle adapted for attachment to said engine, ,a detachable cover closing the water receptacle and provided With a valve chamber and apassage connecting the valve chamber to the inner face of the cover, a stem extendingthrough the valve chamber, an outwardly opening check valve mounted upon the stem, means exterior of the valve chamber for adjusting the stem to regulate the action of the valve, and a vapor pipe leading from the valve chamber to the enlne. g 4. A humidifying device for an internal combustion engine comprising a water receptacle adapted for attachment to said engine, a detachable cover closing the water receptacle, a water inlet pipe attached to the cover, valve means mounted upon and carried by the cover and automatically regulating the flow of water into the receptacle, a vapor pipe leading from the cover to the engine, and valve means mounted upon and carried by the cover for automaticallycontrolling communication between the receptacle and the vapor pipe.

5. A humidifying device for an internal combustion engine comprising a closed casing mounted thereon and adapted to receive water to be vaporized, the walls'of the casing being formed with a valve chamber and a passage leading to the valve chamber, a stem having one end thereof projecting-into the valve chamber while the other end" projects from the exterior of the casing, a check valve slidably mounted upon the stem, 2. spring carried by the stem and en agin the check valve, means at the exter1or o the casing for adjusting the stem to regulate the tension of the spring, and a vapor pipe leading from the valve "chamber to the eng In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM L. BARRON. 

